South Korea’s defense ministry says it has upped its defense readiness and is keeping a close eye on any unusual movement north of the border. It also says it is working in close coordination with the U.S. « In close collaboration under the South Korea-U.S. alliance and with the international community, our military will take necessary measures to make North Korea pay for the nuclear test. »http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=186972

According to official statistics produced by the Ministry of Unification, as of 30th June 2014 there were 129,553 South Koreans registered as ‘members of divided families’. This is an official status and it means that the registered person is eligible to apply for a family reunion with their relatives in the Northhttp://www.theasian.asia/archives/89509

North Korea has launched a vitriolic attack on South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye over comments she made about the country’s nuclear program, accusing her of « blabbering » like a « peasant woman. »

The two Koreas failed to reach an agreement during their first high-level talks in seven years on Wednesday due to differences over planned Seoul-Washington military drills During the 12-hour marathon talks, the North “constantly demanded” Seoul’s postponement of the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises until after the event. The joint South Korea-US drills are scheduled to begin February 24

North Korea slammed President Park Geun-hye Tuesday for fueling tensions with provocative anti-Pyongyang remarks made during her recent trip to Europe. The North’s Korean Central News Agency, citing a statement issued by an unidentified spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK), referred to Park by name and accused her of being a hypocrite and only focused on maintaining a confrontational stance with the DPRK.

President Park Geun-hye said she was open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at any time if it is necessary for peace on the Korean Peninsula, indicating a softer approach to the belligerent regime that remains fickle with the South.

North Korea on Thursday accepted a request by South Korean lawmakers to visit Gaeseong, raising hopes that momentum will pick up for the joint factory park whose recently resumed operations are suffering after a five-month freeze.http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20131024000580

21 OCTOBER 2013

N. Korea warns of ‘merciless firing’ against S. Korea

North Korea on Monday warned of « merciless firing » against the South if it goes ahead with a reported plan to develop shells to carry anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

It is never too soon to start preparing for cultural integration of the two Koreas post-reunification, which is likely to entail heavy social conflict, according to President Park Geun-hye’s top cultural adviser.“In the last 60 years that the two Koreas have been in confrontation, we have witnessed not only our language but also our customs and culture changing drastically from one another. Such sense of difference can aggravate the conflict if the two Koreas unexpectedly reunify,” Kim Dong-ho, 76, a policymaker-turned-film guru said in an interview with The Korea Herald.

Seoul on Monday reiterated its demand to separate the issues of reunions of divided families and stalled tours to Mount Geumgang as a cash-strapped Pyongyang seeks to link them to reopen the lucrative resort program.http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130819000815

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